1 COR 7:9 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT But if they do not have self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn.

UST However, some people will struggle to control how they desire to have sex. These people should get married, because that is a better choice than constantly desiring to have sex.

BLB But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

AICNT But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

OEB But, if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to be consumed with passion.

WEBBE But if they don’t have self-control, let them marry. For it’s better to marry than to burn with passion.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET But if they do not have self-control, let them get married. For it is better to marry than to burn with sexual desire.

LSV and if they do not have continence—let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn;

FBV But if they lack self-control, then they should get married—for it is better to marry than burn with desire.

TCNT But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

T4T But if you cannot control your sexual desires [EUP], you should get married. It is better to be married so that you can satisfy your sexual desires with your spouse than to constantly have a strong desire [EUP] for sexual relations.

LEB But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with sexual desire.

BBE But if they have not self-control let them get married; for married life is better than the burning of desire.

Moff Still, if they cannot restrain themselves, let them marry. Better marry than be aflame with passion!

Wymth If, however, they cannot maintain self-control, by all means let them marry; for marriage is better than the fever of passion.

ASV But if they have not continency, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

DRA But if they do not contain themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be burnt.

YLT and if they have not continence — let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn;

Drby But if they have not control over themselves, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn.

RV But if they have not continency, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

SLT And if they have not self command, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to be set on fire.

Wbstr But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

KJB-1769 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

KJB-1611 But if they cannot conteine, let them marry: for it is better to marrie then to burne.
(But if they cannot conteine, let them marry: for it is better to marry then to burn.)

Bshps But if they can not abstayne, let them marrie: For it is better to marrie then to burne.
(But if they cannot abstayne, let them marrie: For it is better to marry then to burn.)

Gnva But if they cannot abstaine, let them marrie: for it is better to marrie then to burne.
(But if they cannot abstaine, let them marrie: for it is better to marry then to burn. )

Cvdl But yf they cannot absteyne, let them mary. For it is better to mary, then to burne.
(But if they cannot absteyne, let them mary. For it is better to mary, then to burn.)

TNT But and yf they cannot abstayne let them mary. For it is better to mary then to burne.
(But and if they cannot abstain let them mary. For it is better to mary then to burn. )

Wycl That if thei conteynen not hem silf, be thei weddid; for it is betere to be weddid, than to be brent.
(That if they conteynen not himself, be they wedded; for it is better to be wedded, than to be burnt.)

Luth So sie aber sich nicht enthalten, so laß sie freien; es ist besser freien, denn Brunst leiden.
(So they/she/them but itself/yourself/themselves not contain/include, so let they/she/them free(v); it is better free(v), because/than Brunst suffer.)

ClVg Quod si non se continent, nubant. Melius est enim nubere, quam uri.[fn]
(That when/but_if not/no himself continent, nubant. Better it_is because cloudre, how uri. )

7.9 Uri, est desideriis agi vel vinci. Non ergo ideo dicit melius, quasi bonum sit uri et nubere melius, sed consuetudinem locutionis est secutus.

7.9 Uri, it_is desires agi or to_be_defeated. Not/No therefore therefore/for_that_reason he_says better, as_if good be uri and cloudre better, but custom of_speech it_is followed.

UGNT εἰ δὲ οὐκ ἐνκρατεύονται, γαμησάτωσαν; κρεῖττον γάρ ἐστιν γαμῆσαι, ἢ πυροῦσθαι.
(ei de ouk enkrateuontai, gamaʸsatōsan; kreitton gar estin gamaʸsai, aʸ purousthai.)

SBL-GNT εἰ δὲ οὐκ ἐγκρατεύονται, γαμησάτωσαν, κρεῖττον γάρ ἐστιν ⸀γαμῆσαι ἢ πυροῦσθαι.
(ei de ouk egkrateuontai, gamaʸsatōsan, kreitton gar estin ⸀gamaʸsai aʸ purousthai.)

RP-GNT Εἰ δὲ οὐκ ἐγκρατεύονται, γαμησάτωσαν· κρεῖσσον γάρ ἐστιν γαμῆσαι ἢ πυροῦσθαι.
(Ei de ouk egkrateuontai, gamaʸsatōsan; kreisson gar estin gamaʸsai aʸ purousthai.)

TC-GNT Εἰ δὲ οὐκ ἐγκρατεύονται, γαμησάτωσαν· [fn]κρεῖσσον γάρ ἐστι [fn]γαμῆσαι ἢ πυροῦσθαι.
(Ei de ouk egkrateuontai, gamaʸsatōsan; kreisson gar esti gamaʸsai aʸ purousthai. )

7:9 κρεισσον ¦ κρειττον CT

7:9 γαμησαι ¦ γαμειν WH

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 7:1–40: Paul answered questions about marriage

In an earlier letter to Paul, the Corinthians had mentioned some problems and asked him some questions. There are no longer any copies of this letter, so we can only guess what they wrote by reading Paul’s answers. Apparently some of the questions the Corinthians had asked were about marriage and sex. In this section Paul discussed these topics. He wrote about sexual intercourse, divorce, marrying again after a person’s husband or wife dies, and never marrying.

From the way Paul talked, it appears that the Corinthians were thinking that if believers want to be holy, they should abstain from sexual relations. The Corinthians were wondering if married people should sleep together, if Christians who were married to non-Christians should divorce them, and if Christians should get married. Paul gave them some wise teaching on each of these topics. In 7:1–16 he addressed Christians who were married. In 7:17–24 he wrote about his general rule for Christians: Remain as you are. In 7:25–38 he taught Christians who were not married. In 7:39–40 he addressed women whose husbands had died.

Other possible section headings include:

Paul gave/wrote instructions about Christian marriage

Paul’s teaching on marriage

Paragraph 7:8–9

In this paragraph Paul discussed people who were not married at that time. Some Corinthian believers thought it would be better for them to remain unmarried. Paul advised them to remain as they were. However, if they strongly desired to marry, then they should do so.

7:9a

But if they cannot control themselves,

However, if they/you are not controlling their/your desires/passions,
But if a celibate life is too hard for you,

But: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as But here introduces an exception to what Paul had just said. Although he thought it good for people to remain single, he understood that for some people it was not good, and these people should marry.

if they cannot control themselves: The Greek clause that the BSB translates as if they cannot control themselves refers to a situation in which single or widowed people strongly desire to have sexual intercourse. Perhaps they cannot stop this desire or they cannot control their thoughts. If a literal translation does not make this meaning clear, you may be able to translate this as:

if their desires are so strong they cannot control them

Again, in some languages it may be natural to use a second-person pronoun. For example:

But if you cannot restrain your desires (GNT)

7:9b

let them marry.

then it is better for them/you to have a wife or a husband.
then you ought to marry someone,

let them marry: This is Paul’s direction to these people. It is also possible to translate it as a direct command in either the third or second person:

they are to get married

go ahead and marry (GNT)

7:9c

For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

For it is better for them/you to get married than to stay single and always be longing for marriage/relations.
because marriage is preferable to unsatisfied desire.

For: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as For introduces the basis for Paul advising that those people should marry. Translate this in a way that is natural in your language.

it is better to marry than to burn with passion: The Greek word that the BSB translates as burn with passion is literally simply burn. This is a figure of speech that refers to having unsatisfied desires/wants, especially strong unsatisfied sexual desire. So the BSB and most other versions add the implied information with passion to show that Paul was referring to sexual desire.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical

εἰ & οὐκ ἐνκρατεύονται, γαμησάτωσαν

if & not (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ Δέ οὐκ ἐγκρατεύονται γαμησάτωσαν κρεῖττον γάρ ἐστίν γαμῆσαι ἤ πυροῦσθαι)

Here Paul uses if to introduce a true possibility. He means that people might have self-control or they might not. Here he gives instructions for if they do not have self-control. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this form by stating the if statement by using a relative clause. Alternate translation: [whoever does not have self-control should marry]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

οὐκ ἐνκρατεύονται

not (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ Δέ οὐκ ἐγκρατεύονται γαμησάτωσαν κρεῖττον γάρ ἐστίν γαμῆσαι ἤ πυροῦσθαι)

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind self-control, you can express the idea by using an adjective such as “self-controlled” or a verbal phrase such as “control themselves.” Alternate translation: [they are not self-controlled] or [they do not control themselves]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative3p

γαμησάτωσαν

˱them˲_˓let˒_marry

Here Paul uses a third-person imperative. If you have third-person imperatives in your language, you could use one here. If you do not have third-person imperatives, you could express the idea using a word such as “let” or “should,” as the ULT does. Alternate translation: [let them marry]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

πυροῦσθαι

˓to_be_being˒_burning

Here, to burn is a way to refer to sexual desire. Paul uses burn because he represents the desire as hard to fight and as something that consumes a person like fire consumes a building. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this figure of speech with a comparable metaphor or by including a reference to sexual desire. Alternate translation: [to burn with desire] or [to lust after someone]

Parallel 1 COR 7:9

Section 7:1–40: Paul answered questions about marriage

Paragraph 7:8–9

7:9a

7:9b

7:9c

Parallel 1 COR 7:9